A motorist has been charged with killing a husband and wife who died when they were knocked off their tandem bicycle.

Nicky Lovell, 38, will appear before North Avon Magistrates' Court on Wednesday accused of two counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

Ross and Clare Simons had hopes of starting a family

Lovell, of Oldland Common, South Gloucestershire, has also been charged with driving while disqualified; driving without third party insurance and driving a vehicle and failing to stop after a road accident.

Cyclists Ross and Clare Simons died in a crash on Sunday in Hanham, near Bristol.

Allie Longhorn, senior crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "I have today authorised Avon and Somerset Police to charge Nicky Lovell with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

"I have also authorised charges of driving while disqualified; driving without third party insurance; and driving a vehicle and failing to stop after a road accident.

"Our thoughts are today with the victims' families."

Lovell was arrested after handing himself into police hours after the collision involving Mr and Mrs Simons.

The young couple died less than 24 hours after they celebrated the news that they could undergo fertility treatment to start a family.

Mr Simons, 34, and his 30-year-old wife - described by friends as "two peas in a pod" - died when their bicycle was in collision with a Citroen Picasso car.

Their families described them as "very special" and said they had "no words" to describe their loss.

The car was allegedly speeding moments before the incident and Avon and Somerset officers indicated for it to pull over, but were forced to follow it after it sped off.

Moments later the car struck another vehicle before colliding with Mr and Mrs Simons's tandem.

"Both of our families are completely devastated by the tragic events that took Ross and Clare from us," the couple's families said in a statement.

"A very special couple have been taken from us and we have no words to describe our loss.

"We would all appreciate it if our privacy was respected at this difficult time in order for us to grieve as a family."

About 100 people attended a vigil for the pair at the scene on Monday night.

Mr Simons' father Edwin was among the mourners, as was his sister Kelly, who said: "This is a tribute to Ross and Clare, two amazing people."

The couple, who had been married for about 18 months and had been together for several years, had celebrated the news of their IVF treatment on Saturday night by having a meal with friends.

Family friend Diane Pullin, from Kingswood, Bristol, said the couple had been out with her daughter Shelley and son-in-law Darren.

She said: "They are a lovely family, so kind and so helpful. They'd just had news that they were able to have fertility treatment... everything to live for.

"They were trying for children and they had just been told they could have fertility treatment.

"It's just terrible and it shouldn't have happened. Two young people with their lives in front of them... snapped away just like that."

Dozens of floral tributes have been left at the scene of the crash in memory of Mr and Mrs Simons.

Avon and Somerset Police have referred the matter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.